Training: The Art of Sacrifice
Have you ever put together Mr. Potato Head while cycling on the trainer? If you have a family, your training is not always textbook.
These past few weeks I have been training for the cycling leg of the Savageman Half Triathlon. Competing in the Savageman relay has become a tradition. In 2009, my friend and physical therapist, Kerri, had asked me to jump on a team with her. Little did I know that this team would continue year after year. I also have to admit, that this race had personal significance. The Savageman race is not only know for its crazy climbs, but also its support for melanoma research. Our family had been struck with melanoma. So, in some ways this race has been a method of coping with the emotional scars.
Training for this event is sometimes quite difficult. It is not unusual to scope out a ride with the most hills and bike at least three hours. Prior to a family, this type of training wasn’t a problem. Now that our family has expanded by one, training takes on a totally different structure. Oftentimes, you throw away the training plan and begin to improvise. If you miss an important training ride, forget about it and move on. But keep in mind that you are not the only one sacrificing. Your spouse is also sacrificing. I can remember several times, Jody hanging out with Elijah half of the day while I’m riding in the Shenandoah Mountains. She sacrificed her day and her time. Sure she is getting great quality time with Elijah, but I’m sure that she has plenty of other things she would like to do. What makes this sacrifice even more crucial for Jody is the time of the year.
The Savageman Triathlon is on the third weekend of September. In Jody’s other life, she is a high school teacher. So, during the time Jody is ramping up her training, I’m trying to commit the time to get those last crucial miles in so I’m prepared for the course. It is a bit of a tricky puzzle to put together but we sacrifice.
So, the moral of the story is get good at putting together Mr. Potato Head while cycling over 20 mph on the trainer and be flexible as possible with your training. Sacrifice is key when training and having a family, but the experiences of family will always overshadow the moments of competing.
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